In Azerbaijan, oppositionists' custody extended for two more months

On Friday, July 15, the Sabail District Court of Baku ruled to extend for two months the arrest of Arif Gadjily, the head of the central office of the "Musavat" Party; Tural Abbasly, chairman of the "Musavat" youth organization; and Muhammed Medzhidli, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA).

They were arrested on April 2 in the course of an unsanctioned rally of the Civil Movement for Democracy "Public Chamber" (CMDPC) in central Baku. On May 24, the Sabail District Court already extended their arrest by two months.

In the course of the court session on July 15, the lawyer Asabli Mustafaev made two motions: to allow Arif Gadjily to sit close to his advocate and on unreasonable prosecutor's presentation on extending the detainees' arrest.

The same opinion was expressed by Mr Gadjily himself. He said that after the first extension of their arrest no investigatory actions were conducted. However, the court dismissed both motions.

In his turn, Anar Gasymov, advocate of Tural Abbasly, said that he had not been notified about the consideration of his client's case at the court, "which is mere arbitrariness and disrespect of the prosecutor's office for the court."

In a similar manner, the arrest of Muhammed Medzhidli, a PFPA activist, was extended. The cases were dealt with separately.